This gave us a pure product in a reasonable yield and was adaptable for the preparation of certain substituted 3 (2H)-benzofuranones. IVa was prepared in good yield by esterification of the commercially available O-carboxymethylsalicyclic acid. However, we prepared the substituted diesters (IVb, IVc, IVd, and IVe) by O-alkylating the appropriate ethylsalicylate with ethyl bromoacetate in ethanolic potassium hydroxide. l4 Ring closure to Va, Vb, and ...
